Veterans Revis and Browner embrace fresh starts with Patriots

Cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner complete their first week of organized team activities in New England. Both are looking forward to the 2014 season with their new team.

Glen Farley The Enterprise @GFarley_ent

FOXBORO – Darrelle Revis will turn 29 in July.

Brandon Browner will hit the big three-oh in August.

Signed by the Patriots in the opening week of free agency in March (after Aqib Talib left for Denver), the two cornerbacks are entering new phases, fresh starts if you will, in their NFL careers.

“Last year, it was a tough year,” Revis said at the conclusion of Friday’s organized team activity on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium. “When I played in Tampa Bay, it was tough coming off the ACL (left knee tear while playing for the New York Jets in September 2012) and everything, so it was a long year for me personally, just trying to recover.

“So now I’m ready to go,” said Revis, “and I’m just trying to sit here and absorb everything in and just trying to enjoy my time and get ready for the season.”

While he picked up a Super Bowl ring with the Seattle Seahawks, Browner had his own issues last year, the carryover effect being that he must sit out the first four games of this season for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Saying his “situation last year was unfortunate,” Browner painted a bright picture of what awaits him in New England.

“I’m on a great team,” said Browner. “I’m fortunate to be here with these guys. I look forward to playing.”

Signed to a three-year contract worth up to $16.8 million, Browner – who at 6-foot-4 and 221 pounds is a physical presence on the corner – spent three seasons as a member of Seattle’s “Legion of Boom,” earning a Pro Bowl berth in 2011 when he intercepted six passes.

Considered by many the best in the game, Revis’ resume is the greater of the two, of course, highlighted by five Pro Bowl berths in seven seasons (six with the Jets, last year with Tampa Bay) and 21 interceptions in 95 games.

In the aftermath of his third OTA with his third team in as many years, Revis – signed to what is essentially a one-year, $12-million contract (don’t expect the team to pick up the option on his $20 million deal for 2015) – sounded more like a rookie than an established vet, twice stressing “I’ve got a lot of stuff on my plate.

“I’m just trying to take this time to get to know the guys and for them to know me as well,” the 5-foot-11, 198-pounder said. “I’m not trying to come in here and step on anybody’s toes. I’m just trying to come in here and learn as much as I can and improve and get this defensive scheme down and just keep on working.”

Asked about the Patriots’ secondary, Revis sounded an air of caution.

“We’re just trying to get better every day, and when the preseason comes and all of that, and the season comes, I think we’ll be ready to go,” he said.

Browner’s tone was more confident as he said, “I have a good feeling about this group.

“I think we’ve got a great group here with the addition of Revis,” said Browner. “(Safety Devin) McCourty’s a great football player and (with) the young guys we’ve got here, man, we should be good.”

Glen Farley may be reached at gfarley@enterprisenews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @GFarley_ent.